Slotted set screw

ABSTRACT

A slotted set screw includes a slot in an upper end surface, and a cut metal waste storing recess respectively formed at two ends of the slot. The cut metal waste storing recess is defined by a vertical wall and a flat bottom wall to have a large opening, separated from the slot for a little distance. The opening of the cut metal waste storing recess communicates with the outside of the threads of the set screw. Thus, cut metal waste may be stored in the cut metal waste storing recesses during cutting threads of the set screw, without falling into and remaining in the slot to result in extra cleaning work for the waste in the slot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a slotted set screw, particularly to oneprovided with a cut metal waste storing recess respectively provided attwo opposite ends of the slot of a set crew, and the two waste storingrecesses are parallel to each other and have a large opening so that cutmetal waste produced by cutting threads in an outer surface of the shankof the set screw may be naturally fall into the two waste storingrecesses without falling into and clog the slot of the set screw duringprocessing the set screw.

Description of the Prior Art

A first conventional slotted set screw 10 shown in FIG. 1 is providedwith a slot 11 in the center of the upper end surface for the flat tipof a screwdriver to fit with for driving the first conventional slottedset screw 10. In processing the first conventional slotted set screw, ahalf finished material of a set screw already formed with a slot is nextcut with threads in an outer surface of its shank. However, in cuttingthreads, cut metal waste may fall into the slot of a set screw,resulting in extra work for cleaning the cut metal waste out of theslot, or the finished set screw may become disqualified to be discarded,in case the cut metal waste is not completely removed out of the slot.

There is a second conventional slotted set screw 20 disclosed in aTaiwan patent of No. 468520, which includes a slot 21 in an upper endsurface as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a tapered bottom surface 22 isrespectively formed at two ends of the slot 21, and the sidewalls 23 ofthe slot 21 are made to incline outward, so the width and the depth ofthe two ends of the slot 21 are larger than the intermediate portion ofthe slot 21. Therefore, in processing the second conventional slottedset screw, cut metal waste may fall out of and not remain in the slot21, even if it falls into the slot 21

Although the second conventional slotted set screw 20 has the bottomsurface 22 and the two sidewalls 23 formed as tapered in order to guidecut metal waste to fall out of the slot 21, they are rather complicatedto process, taking much time and work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been devised to offer a slotted set screw, possibleto simplifying its manufacturing process to shorten time needed, withcut metal waste not falling into and remaining in the slot of a setscrew.

The feature of the invention is a cut metal waste storing recessrespectively formed at two ends of a slot of a set crew before cuttingthreads of a set screw, and the cut metal waste storing recess isdefined by a vertical wall and a flat bottom wall to have a largeopening and separated from the slot for a little distance. Therefore,cut metal waste may not fall and remain in the slot during processingthe threads. So extra cleaning work for the cut metal waste remained inthe slot is not necessary after the threads are finished, as needed inmaking the first conventional set screws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This invention may be better understood by referring to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first conventional slotted set screw;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a second conventional slotted set screw;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the line 3-3 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is an upper view of a slotted set screw in the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an upper view of a cross recessed set crew in the presentinvention; and,

FIG. 8 is an upper view of a hexagon recessed set screw in the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of a slotted set screw 30 in the presentinvention, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, includes a slot 31 formed in anupper end, a cut metal waste storing recess 32 respectively formed justunder an opening at two opposite ends of the slot 31 and just on theuppermost thread of the set screw 30, so there is a little distancebetween the slot 31 and the cut metal waste storing recesses 32.Moreover, each waste storing recess 32 has two ends and its bottomextending out of the set screw, so the opening of each recess 32 islarger than that of the slot 31, and defined by a vertical wall and atapered down flat bottom wall. Therefore, in cutting threads in an outersurface of the shank of the slotted set screw in the invention, cutmetal waste may remain in the cut metal waste storing recesses 32, notfalling into the slot 31 to harm the wholeness of the slot 31. So it isquite clear that cut metal waste cannot fall into the slot of a slottedset screw in processing, so long as there is formed with a cut metalwaste recess 32 respectively at two ends of the slot 31, with a littledistance set between the recesses 32 and the slot 31, improving the drawback in manufacturing the first conventional slotted set screws.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in order to enable a Phillips-head-tipscrewdriver or a hexagonal spanner used, the slotted set screw 30 can bemade with a Phillips head recess 33 or a hexagonal recess 34 in stead ofthe slot 31. Then the set screw 30 with a Phillips head recess 33 can bedriven by both the flat tip and the Phillips-head-tip screwdriver.Likewise, the set screw 30 with a hexagon recess 34 can be driven byboth the flat tip screwdriver and a hexagon spanner.

In general, the cut metal waste storing recess 32 formed at two ends ofthe slot 31 can store cut metal waste during processing the threads,preventing cut metal waste from falling into the slot 31, not needing antroublesome processes for forming the bottom and the sidewalls of theslot in the second conventional set screws, simplifying and speeding themanufacturing process.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationsmay be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover allsuch modifications that may fall into the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A slotted set screw provided with a slot in an upper end of a setscrew for a flat-tip screwdriver to fit therein for driving; and,characterized by a cut metal waste storing recess respectively formed attwo opposite ends of said slot, said cut metal waste storing recessdefined by a vertical wall and a flat bottom wall to have a largeopening, said waste storing recess being separated from said slot for alittle distance, said opening being adjacent to the outside of threadsof said set screw.
 2. The slotted set screw as claimed in claim 1,wherein said vertical wall of said cut metal waste storing recess hasits lower end located at a root of said threads.
 3. The slotted setscrew as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot is replaced with aPhillips head recess for both a flat-head-tip and a Phillips-head-tipscrewdriver to fit with.
 4. The slotted set screw as claimed in claim 1,wherein said slot is replaced with a hexagonal recess for both aflat-tip screwdriver and a hexagonal spanner to fit with.
 5. The slottedset screw as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot is replaced with asquare recess.
 6. The slotted set screw as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid slot is replaced with a plum blossom-shaped recess.